1991 Buick Century

Routine

Owners filed 38 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › foundation components. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Vehicle Speed Control4
304
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components4
102
Unknown or Other3
000
Seats2
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline2
000
Electrical System › Ignition2
100
Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator2
000
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer1
000
Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and Attachments1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Drum › Wheel Cylinders1
100

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage95V173000
Filed Sep 15, 19952,216,325 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH REAR OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGES THAT MAY NOT WITHSTAND THE REQUIRED LOAD. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO.210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES."

Risk. CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IN A COLLISON, STRESS CAN CAUSE THE ATTACHMENT METAL TO TEAR AND ALLOW THE ANCHORAGE TO SEPARATE FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY BELT MAY NOT PROTECT AN OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING ANCHOR BOLTS WITH A NEW SHOULDER BOLT AND THREAD LOCKING ADHESIVE. ADDITIONALLY, NOISE CONTROL PATCHES WILL BE APPLIED AT EACH ANCHORAGE.

Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner92V124000
Filed Sep 1, 1992319,181 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THE POWER SEAT OR RECLINER WIRING HARNESS CAN BE PINCHED OR CAN CHAFE ON THE SEAT FRAME OR SPRING SUPPORT ROD, WEARING THROUGH THE WIRE INSULATION AND CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.

Risk. THE HIGH CURRENT CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL SHORT WELDS THECIRCUIT BREAKER ELEMENTS TOGETHER IN THE CLOSED POSITION, LEAVING THE CIRCUITUNPROTECTED AND GENERATING SUFFICIENT HEAT TO BURN THE WIRE INSULATION ANDIGNITE THE SEAT CUSHION MATERIAL.

Remedy. REPAIR ANY ABRADED WIRING AND REROUTE THE WIRING HARNESS USING A WIRING HARNESS CLIP.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Unknown or Other
Filed Feb 2, 2017165 milesAZ

I PUT THE KEY IN I TURN IT AND OUT CRANKS BUT WON'T TURN OVER.STATIONARY

Engine
Filed Dec 16, 201490,000 milesIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 BUICK CENTURY (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

Power Train
Filed Jan 15, 2004AR

TRANSMISSION DOESNT WANT TO GO IN GEAR AFTER MAKING A TURN. HAVE NOT HAD THE CAR REPAIRED BECAUSE THE VALUE OF IT IS APPROX. $2,725 ONLY. HAVE ONLY HAD AN ESTIMATE. THE REPAIR-MAN SAID HE THOUGHT IT WAS A SPRAGUE. DONT KNOW IF THIS IS CORRECT SPELLING. I REALIZE THE CAR IS OLD, BUT THE MILEAGE IS LOW FOR THIS MANY YEARS. NOW, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES ON AFTER CAR WARMS UP- AND STAYS ON- TRANSMISSION MAN SAID DIDNT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE TRANS. HAVE NOT HAD A COMPUTER DIAGNOSIS.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Drum › Wheel CylindersCrash
Filed Dec 19, 2001KS

WHEEL CYLINDER DETACHED FROM MOUNTING POINT,GOT CAUGHT UP IN BRAKE SHOES, WHICH CAUSED WHEEL TO FREEZE UP, LEADING TO ROLLOVER ACCIDENT

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jul 19, 2001NC

THE ENGINE STALLS EVERYTIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN MORE THAN 50 MILES, THE VEHICLE STALLS AT LOW SPEEDS ON TURNS, IT STALLS WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AFTER THE ENGINE IS RESTARTED IT RACES, DEALER IS UNABLE TO DETECT THE PROBLEM. NLM

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash4 injured
Filed Mar 16, 2001CA

WHEN SWITCHING GEAR FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE ENGINE SUDDEN ACCELERATED, CRASHING INTO VEHICLE BEHIND. THEN, SWITCHED GEAR TO DRIVE AND ENGINE SUDDEN ACCELERATED AGAIN, CRASHING INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT. VEHICLE TOOK OFF ON IT'S OWN, DRIVING OVER CURVE AND CRASHING INTO A WALL THEN, HITTING AN UTILITY POLE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Feb 28, 2001MI

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE CUTS OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF ALL POWER. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Oct 2, 2000WI

ENGINE BEGAN OVERHEATING, CONSUMER HAD ALL 6 FROST PLUGS REPLACED AND THE WATER PUMP, STARTER, THERMOSTAT, HEAD GASKET AND RESURFACED THE ENGINE HEAD. NLM

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jan 18, 2000AZ

WHILE IN THE OFF POSITION THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, ACCELERATING THE ENGINE, THIS HAS HAPPENED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND IN THE PARK POSITION. *MJS

Seats
Filed Nov 23, 1999TX

THE FRONT SEAT BRACKET BROKE OFF LEAVING THE SEAT LOOSE AND UNSTABLE. YH

Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under Dash
Filed Oct 1, 1999TX

MY CLEAR COAT IS CHALKING AND PEELING MAINLY ON MY HOOD AND TWO SIDE PANELS, THE PAINT ON MY BACK BUMPER IS COMPLETLY FLAKING OFF. I SPOKE WITH THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS REPLACED FREE UNTIL 1995. I DONT FEEL I HAVE DONE ANYTHING TO CAUSE THIS PROBLEM. I WASH AND WAX MY CAR REGULARLY. I FEEL GM SHOULD PAY SINCE THEY ADMITTED FAULT WITH BAD PAINT UNTIL 1995 AND I DID NOT CAUSE THIS PROBLEM NOR OWN THE CAR UNTIL AFTER 1995

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Sep 24, 1999CA

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE DOES NOT SLOW DOWN AND THE BRAKE PEDAL HAS TO BE REAPPLIED WITH MORE PRESSURE. THIS HAPPENS ONLY DURING PANIC STOPS. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN.MJS

Electrical System › Wiring
Filed Jun 25, 1999PA

HAD STARTED VEHICLE, WHICH DID NOT START RIGHT AWAY. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC & HAD BATTERY REPLACED HOWEVER, PROBLEM CONTINUED. VEHICLE WOULD RUN FOR A WHILE. TURNED VEHICLE OFF & LEFT. RETURNED & VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE PROBLEM. THERE IS A TSB #916D-5. *AK

Seats › Front Assembly › ReclinerFire
Filed May 10, 1999NY

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED RECALL COMPONENT FAILURE OF THE POWER SEAT OR RECLINER WIRING HARNESS WHICH RESULTED IN FIRE, HOWEVER DENIED SERVICE DUE TO VIN #. (92V-124). MJS

Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and Attachments
Filed Apr 8, 1999AZ

DRIVER SIDE DOOR FALLING OFF. HAD TO REPLACE ENTIRE DOOR/HINGES ETC. NOT ACCIDENT RELATED. DEALER SAID THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER CENTURY MODELS. *AK

Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator
Filed Mar 1, 1999MI

WE ARE HAVING [PROBLEMS WITH ALL THE ELECTRICAL IN THE DASH ANS POWER WINDOWS, NOW THE CAR WONT START EITHER

Unknown or Other
Filed Oct 5, 1998WI

NEW HIGHER INTENSITY VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS ARE BLINDING TO ONCOMING VEHICLES.

Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator
Filed May 14, 1998NC

ALTERNATOR FAILED.

Seats › Front Assembly › Power AdjustFire
Filed Apr 29, 1998MO

FIRE OCCURRED IN PASSEGER'S SIDE SEAT. CAUSE OF FIRE POSSIBLE ELECTRIC SHORT IN SEAT. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO THE DEALERS.

Seat Belts › Front
Filed Mar 24, 1998LA

FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE IS BROKEN, CONSUMER SAID PART IS MISSING

20 of 38 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1999
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
200519200Routine
200439200Routine
2003127220Routine
2002154240Routine
2001145520Routine
2000193710Routine
1999235540Above average
1998218400Above average
1997106410Routine
199680210Routine
199599110Routine
1994106641Fatalities reported
199354230Routine
199245321Fatalities reported
1991 — this page38220Routine
199033230Routine

Compare every Century year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Sep 15, 1995. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.